How to solder steel tubing with a silver solder.

Use a tube cutter or hacksaw to cut the pipe.A sawing fixture should be used if a hacksaw is used.Remove burrs with a reamer, file, or other sharp edge scraper.If the tube is out of round, it should be brought to true dimensions with a sizing tool.

The joint surface areas should be free of oil, grease, or oxide.Surfaces can be cleaned by brushing with a wire brush or by rubbing emery cloth or Scotch Brite®.Clean with a commercial solvent if oil or grease is present.To remove emery dust, wipe it with a clean dry cloth.The joint surface needs to be clean.

Refer to the Harris Filler Metal selection guide.Dynaflow® and Stay-Silv® 15 are recommended when brazing copper to copper.They are self- fluxing on copper.Stay-Silv® white flux is required with brass and bronze.One of the Stay-Silv® brazing alloys can be used when using iron, steel or other ferrous metals.The joint may be brittle if you use phosphorus bearing alloys.The Harris Estimating Brazing Alloys chart can be used to estimate the amount of brazing.

The flow of metal is promoted by the absorption of oxides formed during heating.Stay-Silv® white flux can only be applied with a brush.A thin layer of flux is applied to the male tubing.If possible, put the tube into the fitting and make sure it's revolve once or twice to ensure uniform coverage.Stay-Silv® white brazing flux is available in a variety of pails.

Attach the tube and fitting together.The proper alignment will be ensured until the brazing alloy is solidified.Support can be maintained for a few seconds depending on the size of the joint area.

The assembly is prepared to braze using a combination of rod, wire, or coil form.

It is possible to adjust the amount of oxygen/Acetylene.A neutral flame should be used for most brazing jobs.The inner cone See diagram shows the neutral flame.An oxidizing flame can be avoided.The copper has surface oxides.The copper will appear bright rather than having a dull or blackened surface due to an improper oxidizing flame.

Oxygen mixed fuel gas is an alternative to quenching with air/ acetylene torches.The fuel gas flow aspirates air into a mixer that contains an internal vane that spins the gas to improve combustion and increase flame temperature.

If the tank has a delivery pressure gauge, you can set the pressure.If the tank only has a contents gauge delivery pressure is preset at the factory and you can open the regulator by turning it clockwise.

The torch value can be opened.There will be enough fuel gas delivery if the turn is opened about 1/3 of a turn.Don't use the torch handle valve to reduce the flame.Change to a different tip size if a higher flame is required.

1.Start heating the tube with a flame at a point next to the fitting.Before applying the metal, you need to work the flame around the tube and fitting.

2.It will be a good temperature guide when a flux is used.Continue heating the tube until the flux passes the "bubbling" temperature range and becomes quiet, completely fluid and transparent and has the appearance of clear water.

3.The flame from the tube should be directed to the base of the fitting and the heat should come from there.

4.To get uniform heat in both parts, sweep the flame back and forth along the axis of the assembled joint, tube, and fitting.

Feed the alloy into the joint between the tube and fitting.The base metals have to be heated before the filler metal can be added.The flame may be detected to the tip of the metal at that time.The fitting and tube should always be heated by playing the flame over the tube and the fitting as the brazing alloy is drawn into the joint.The joint areas will be filled with the brazing alloy.After the joint area is filled, do not feed brazing alloy.Excess fillets do not improve the quality or dependability of the braze.